Improvement in cases for jewelry and silver-ware



2Sh eets--Sheet1. S. BODWELL 8L C. BECK.

Improvement in Cases for Jewelry and Silver Ware. N0. 124,783. Patented Marchl9,1872.

2 Sheets- -Sh eet 2.

s. BODWYELL & c. BECK,

Improvement in Cases for Jewelry and Silver Ware. N0.124,783.

Patented March 19, 1872.

V Flux/Jam, i gaae. W,

SANFORD BODIVELL AND CONSTANTIN BECK, OF PROVIDENCE, B. I., ASSIGN- ORS TO GORHAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CASES FOR JEWELRY/AND SILVER-WARE- Specification forming part of, Letters Patent No. 124,783, dated March 19, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

We, SANFORD BODWELL and Oonsrnncrnv BECK, both of the city and county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain Improvements in Morocco Cases for J ewelry,'Silver-ware, &c., of which the following is a specification, referring by letters to the accompanying drawing making part of the same, in WlllOlJ--- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case with our improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts composing the field F,

herein referred to, without its covering. Fig

3 is a plan of the base-frame, hereinafter referred to. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the said case without its field or covering.

Similar letters denote like parts in all the figures.

Our improvement consists in constructing morocco cases (so called) with an elevated field on a fiat base, to display the article of jewelry, &c., and a deep tip to cover the same on said base. The improvement further consists in constructing the flat base and tip of the case of a marginal frame and a loose filling-piece, to provide against the warping of the case by V the contraction of its leather covering in dryin g. The said improvement also consists in constructing the field, or portion of the case upon which the jewelry,&c., is displayed, of blocks or shapes suited to hold the particular article, secured to a bottom to give the same position; the whole covered with a fabric that will admit of fitting closely the said holdingblocks or shapes, and furnish an ornamental field or surrounding for the relief and display of such wares.

Heretofore such cases have been uniformly made with a base of less depth, but otherwise of the same breadth and shape as the deeper cover; and the field, on which the article was displayed, was arranged upon a plane below the margin or edge of such base, which, in consequence, obstructedthe light and impaired the effect requisite for a proper display or presentation of the article. But, by the construction and arrangement which constitutes our improvement, the whole field is elevated above the base on which it rests; and said base is made fiat and retreating, so that it cannot obstruct the under light, but, on the contrary, is

well calculated to exhibit the article of jewelry or silver-ware in a manner to show it to the best advantage.

It has also been the practice heretofore to make the top and base of the case of a single board or flat piecevof wood, cut to the desired form; but, owing to the contraction of the leather covering by drying after it is put on, the top and base, when so constructed, become more or less warped or twisted from their original shapein some instances to such an extent as to render the case entirely worthless,

when completed. Whereas, by the mode of constructing these parts with a frame and a loose filling-piece or center, the grain of the wood is crossed in the adjoining parts of the frame, and the contraction of the drying leather cov ering has a tendency only to bind the four parts of the frame more closely and firmly to-- gether, without any possibility of warping or twisting the same, so that the case remains unaffected by the after-drying and exposure to the heated temperature of a store or show window.

The case exhibited in the drawing is for a pair of salts and spoons in silver, the salts be ing mounted on the circular forms or shapes B B, and the spoons, by the handle, in the notches t i in the block or form E; the whole being covered with satin, fitting and adhering snugly the shape of the occupied portion of the forms or blocks B and E, with the surrounding portion forming a wrinkled ground or field. In such cases the said blocks are shaped according to the form they are intended to hold, and are arranged or grouped on a bottom, Gr, Fig. 2, which may be of stiff card-board. The satin, or like covering, fits the block or shape, but otherwise is drawn and secured to the margm of the bottom G, leaving the intervening field J carelessly wrinkled, puffed, or tufted, as

the case may be. The base H, with the exception, perhaps, of a surroundin g bead or ridge, a,

on a level with the field for'a finish, forms a retreating flat surface or margin around the field. of sufficient thickness to elevate the field and form a substantial portion of the case, to which the lid L is hinged. The base H and corresponding portion T of the top or lid are constructed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, of four side pieces, F, mitered together at the corners,

forming a substantial frame, and inclosing and holding, by means of tongues and grooves at e e, a flat board or filling-piece, O, fitting loosely, with a space all round, as shown at t t, to permit the filling-piece to shrink or swell without afiecting the frame.

. We claim- 1. The case for jewelry, silver-ware, 850., constructed with a flat base, an elevated field, and a deep lid, substantially as described, as a new article of manufacture.

2. We claim the frame F and filling-piece C for the base and top of leather-covered cases, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 3. We claim the field, composed of suitable blocks or forms on a bottom, with an overdrawn wrinkled or puffed fabric covering the Whole, substantially as specified.

SANFORD BODWELL. OONSTANTIN BECK.

Witnesses Isaac A. BROWNELL, L. W. BODWELL. 

